MLS has granted the United Soccer League First Division’s Vancouver Whitecaps an MLS expansion franchise for 2011. Here’s part of the statement USL Chief Operating Officer Tim Holt issued:

”Although there will be an undeniable void without Vancouver as a USL-1 market as of the 2011 season, the level of interest in USL-1 from substantial prospective franchise ownership groups is at an all-time high. In several weeks, the Austin Aztex will make their USL-1 debut followed in the 2010 season by the Tampa Bay Rowdies and at least one other franchise to be announced within the next 30 days. We are grateful for the role played by the Vancouver Whitecaps in the development of USL-1 the past several years and look forward to building upon this in the coming seasons.”

I don’t know about you, Rhinos fans, but I’d rather lose Vancouver than Montreal.

TRAINING CAMP OPENS THURSDAY: The Rhinos have been doing informal workouts together for more than a week, but the official start to training camp is Thursday. The club will train either at TSE, the indoor facility in Gates, or Rhinos Stadium in the morning and have another session in the afternoon.

The preseason opener is Saturday at Rhinos Stadium at 3 p.m. against Cleveland City, a USL-1 expansion team. Here’s the official 16-player roster, so far:

Other players, such as former Rhinos midfielder/forward Mike Ambersley, are here trying out. Look for the Rhinos to carry a roster of about 20 players. It should be noted that the versatility of these Rhinos — may guys can play different positions — will be key and quite a luxury for coach Darren Tilley, who must be much more prepared now compared to last season. Remember, he wasn’t even officially introduced as coach until the last week of March last spring.

But this seems to be what I’m hearing from fans right now: “Where is the buzz? The media coverage?”

Well, there is no Terrell Owens, no big-splash signing out there for the Rhinos. There just isn’t. But, here is the real reason you won’t see local soccer coverage leading any sportscasts: It’s mid-March, not mid-June.

Of course, there won’t be as much coverage now compared to the summer. And it’s NCAA Tournament week, folks, and THAT is what the casual fan is talking about, so THAT is what media outlets around town are going to focus, especially when we have a team from our region, Syracuse, in it.

But I can tell you that the Democrat and Chronicle will still lead the coverage on the Rhinos, just the way it has since the team’s inception in 1996. From this blog to online updates to our print edition. We’ll do as much as we always have, if not more. We are covering and playing up local sports (versus national) more than ever before. For that, you can thank the Internet shrinking our world.

At the D&C, we have the luxury of having one reporter assigned to the Rhinos’ “beat.” TV stations, which have fewer resources than ever before (similar to us), don’t have that. We all also have to cover the Amerks, Knighthawks, Razorsharks and Raiders, along with the Red Wings on the horizon. (Yes, I do think we have too many minor-league teams competing for the entertainment dollar of fans, especially in this type of economy. They all can’t survive and certainly can’t thrive.)

But, once the rush of the NCAAs subsides and once the state high school basketball tournament concludes this weekend, Rhinos jumps up a notch on everyone’s list, including mine. So, be patient. And, while I know the COMMENTS on this blog from readers has dropped because the format to sign in has removed “ANONYMOUS” from our blogging lives here, readership is still strong. (But, I do wish more people would take the time to comment). So, here are five burning questions for us to discuss:

Who will lead the Rhinos in goals this season?

Where will the Rhinos finish in the USL First Division standings?

How much will the Rhinos miss Scott Palguta and are fans peeved at Steve Guppy for plucking Palguta away so late in the off-season?

Can Andrew Gregor, a two-time USL All-Star, reclaim his status as one of the USL’s top midfielders?

If these small-roster Rhinos need a few “local” players as backups or even just training, will a few former Rhinos in town get a phone call? And if not, why not?

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Jeff DiVeronica has covered professional soccer and the Rhinos for the Democrat and Chronicle since the team's inception in 1996. "Devo's Direct Kicks" takes aim mostly at Rochester soccer, but will also highlight the USL, MLS and U.S. national team play. Devo, his nickname since college at St. John Fisher, also hosts two weekly radio shows each Saturday on WHTK-AM/FM (1280/107.3 or www.whtk.com). "Kick This!" (11 a.m.) features soccer talk, while the Canandaigua National Bank High School Sports Show (noon) covers Section V sports. E-mail Jeff at jdiveron@DemocratandChronicle.com.
Or follow him on Twitter: @RocDevo